The Free State Cheetahs continued their undefeated run in the 2011 Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week after they secured a nail-biting 14-11 victory against the Vodacom Blue Bulls thanks to a match-winning try by centre Jan Serfontein.

The Grey College midfielder scored the match-winning try in the 66th minute of the game to hand the Bloemfontein team their second win of the tournament. This match stood out as one of the most thrilling and entertaining games of the tournament despite only two tries being scored in this fixture. Both teams played a running brand of rugby, while at the same time gave very little away on defence.

Free State Cheetahs fullback Jannie Strumpher, who is currently the leading points’ scorer of the tournament with 29 points, kicked two penalties for the Bloemfontein team while Arnoldus Vosloo kicked one penalty. Vodacom Blue Bulls flanker Sikhumbuzo Mabuza scored his team’s only try while flyhalf Francois Tredoux added two penalties for the Pretoria Under-18 team. The Vodacom Blue Bulls were superior at scrum time and dominated the line-outs. However the Free State Cheetahs were the more clinical team on attack and asked plenty of questions to the Vodacom Blue Bulls defence.

In the other matches of day, there were convincing victories for Griquas and the Mpumalanga Under-18 teams. The hosts from Kimberley secured a comprehensive 53-3 victory over Griquas while the Pumas ran in 51-26 winners against the Boland Cavaliers.

Griquas ran in seven tries in their clash against Namibia. Granville Adams added a brace while Vuyani Maqina, Adriaan Smith, Curtley Kiewiet, Dawid- Johan Minnie and Hermanus Scholtz were the other try-scorers for the home side. Jacobus du Plessis added three conversions and kicked four penalties. Namibia’s only points were scored by Lou Rickerts.

The Pumas were also full of running and scored five tries during their 51-26 victory over Boland. Mpumelelo Gina, Werner Kok, Wandile Nkosi, Phumlani Radebe and Albertus Smith were the try-scorers for the Mpumalanga side. Jacobus Wolmarans kicked four conversions and six penalties. The team from Wellington also managed to score four tries which were added by Ashlon Davids, Gilmore Hektocr and Jason Kriel who ran in a brace of five-pointers. Ashlon Davids kicked two conversions while Anzo Stubbs added a third conversion for the Boland Cavaliers.

Eastern Province recorded their first win of the 2011 Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week following their 40-17 victory over the Platinum Leopards while the Valke recorded a 39-23 win against the SWD Eagles in one of the earlier matches played at GWK Park.